Vacuum breaker



Nov. s, 1938 KOHLER 2,135,582

VACUUM BREAKER Filed Dec. 50, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

C 1313b J-KUHL ER NOV. 8, 1938. c KOHLER 2,135,582

VACUUM BREAKER Filed Dec. 30, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'P" A 5 JK film 8 33 jf 4TTOR INVENTOR.

Patented N... s, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VACUUM BREAKER Carl J. Kohler, Kohler, Wis. Application December 30, 1936, Serial No. 118,252

14 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in vacuum breakers of a type adaptable for use in connection with plumbing fixtures such as flush tanks,-closet bowls, etc.

Considerable attention has lately been directed to the fact that a vacuum in the supply line of a plumbing fixture, such as may be created by shutting off or lowering the water pressure therein, has a tendency to create a back-syphon, syphoning the liquid content of the fixture into the supply line and contaminating it. Since the supply line ordinarily also supplies drinking water, this contamination is a serious matter, and modern plumbing codes require that fixtures be equipped with some means to prevent back-syphonage.

It is the object of my invention to provide means which will positively prevent back-syphonage.

It is a further object. of my invention to provide such a means which is not dependent upon moving parts for its operation but utilizes the centrifugal force of the water for this purpose.

Other objects will be apparent from the disclosure herein.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, of the vacuum breaker connected to a flush valve and water closet bowl; Fig. 2, a horizontal section thereof taken along the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1; Figures 3 and 4, semidiagrammatic views thereof showing the direction of liquid travel; Fig. 5,

,a side view, partly in section, showing a difierent arrangement of the supply and discharge connections; Fig. 6, a sectional view thereof taken along the lines 6-6 of Fig.5; Figs. 7, 8 and 9, side views, partly in section, showing other arrangements of the supply and discharge connections; and Fig. 10, a sectional view of the form shown in Fig. 9, taken along the lines iii-i0 of Fig. 9.

The invention is capable of embodiment in many varied .structures. However, the general principle of all is similar, namely, the liquid inpressure through said body member without the liquid occupying the center portion or core of the body member, which may be left open to the atmosphere. It is impossible to back syphon such an arrangement, since any vacuum in the supply line will be immediately broken by the admission of air through the center of the body member.

Passing now 'to the specific embodiment oi the principle and particularly that illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, the vacuum breaker is shown interposed between the water closet bowl I and the flush valve 2, it being understood, however, that the device is not limited to such use, as it may be used in connection with a flush tank or any other source of supply to any type oi plumbing fixture or in any other type of liquid connection where the prevention of back syphonage is desirable.

The vacuum breaker proper comprises a tubular body portion 3 provided with the liquid supply pipe 4 which has communication with the interior 01' said body through the port 5. As is shown in Figure 4, the port 5 enters the body 3 in a direction substantially tangential to the circumference of the body.

Thus liquid enters the body through the port 5 in a direction tangential to the body, which gives the liquid a rotary or whirling motion, causing it to ascend the body in a spiral or helical path as shown by the dotted line of Figure 3. The port 5 may also, if desired, be arranged so as to discharge somewhat upwardly to aid the helical flow instead of depending on the displacement of the liquid in the body by that entering the body to cause the upward movement.

The body 3 is provided with a partition or top 6 which extends partially across the body and is adapted to divert the stream of liquid downwardly as shown by the dotted line 01' Figure 3.

I prefer to'provide an inner sleeve I adapted to receive the downward flow of the liquid and to guide it downwardly as shown by the arrowed line of Figure 4, the liquid still retaining its whirling or helical motion.

The partition 6 is apertured at I and the aperture is preterably'provided with a tube 0 which provides communication between the interior oi the body and the atmosphere.

The device may also be provided with the ornamental cap II. v

The liquid entering the port I passes upwardly with a spiral or helical motion along the body 3 and then downwardly, still retaining its helical motion, along the sleeve 1. The centrifugal force uid to adhere to the walls of the sleeve 1 leaving an open center or core open to the atmosphere as shown by the dotted line of Figure 4. It is impossible for a vacuum anywhere in the line to draw liquid through the apparatus, since, in

' such a case, air would be drawn through the ency to stick or. bind, due to corrosion andother causes. Y

The construction shown in Figures 5 and 6 is similar to that described except that the body 3 is provided with a bottom. I I, which is spiral or helically shaped to aid the helical flow of liquid.

Or the supply pipe 4 may enter the body 3 at its top, as shown inFigure "I, the liquid passing and discharging downwardly.

If desired, the body 3 may be provided with spiral or helical bands II, as shown in Figure 8, to aid the helical flow of liquid,

In the construction shown in Figures 9 and 10 the sleeve 1 is not provided, the liquid discharging through the discharge pipe it which, like the supply pipe 4, is positioned substantially tangential to the body 3.

Ihave found that where the discharge is directly into a chamber in which a back pressure may develop, such as the closet bowl shown in Figure 1, there is a tendency for the liquid to rise in the discharge tube and interfere with the action of the device.

Therefore. I prefer to provide the discharge pipe ll witha closure plate I! adapted to completely close the end of said discharge pipe and to provide the discharge pipe I with a series of peripherally located discharge apertures l 8. This construction obviates the tendency of the liquid to rise in the discharge pipe. since the pressure of the liquid passing through the apertures I6 is suifi'cient to overcome any back pressure.

It will be understood that the specific embodi-' ments herein disclosed are for the purpose or illustration only and that the invention is not limited to the specific details disclosed, but only by the scope of the appended claims. I claim:

1. In a vacuumbreaker, the combination of a tubular body, a liquid supply pipe thereto, a port adapted to provide commlmication between said supply pipe and said body and entering said body in a direction substantially tangential thereto, and an aperture positioned in the central portion of said'body and adapted to provide communication between the interior of said body and the exterior atmosphere.

2. In a vacuum breaker, the combination of a tubular body, a liquid supply pipe thereto, a port adapted to provide communication between said supply pipe and said body and entering said body in a direction substantially. tangential thereto, the proportion between said port and said body being such that liquid entering said body from said port and held by centrifugal force against the walls of said body does not occupy the center portion of said body, and means for providing communication between said center portion and the exterior atmosphere.

3. In a vacuum breaker,.the tubular body, a liquid supply connection thereto, means for causing liquid entering said body to assume a rotary motion, and means for providing combination of a created by the helical movement causes the liqliquid entering the b'ody and held against the Y walls thereof by centrifugal force does not occupy the center portion of said body, and means for providing communication between said center portion and the exterior atmosphere.

5. In a vacuum breaker, the combination of a tubular body, a liquid supply pipe thereto, a port adapted to provide communication between said supply pipe and said body and entering said body in a direction substantially tangential thereto,

a top on said body, a tubular sleeve positioned within said body and spaced apart therefrom and from said top, and an aperture in said top adapted to provide communication between said sleeve and the exterior atmosphere.

6. In a vacuum breaker, the combination of a tubular body, a fluid supply pipe communicating with said body in a direction substantially tangen- ,.tial thereto, an aperture in said body adapted to provide communication between said body and the exterior atmosphere, and a discharge pipe communicating with said body in a direction substantially tangential thereto.

'7. In a vacuum breaker, the combination of a tubular'body, a liquid supply pipe thereto, means associated with said body for imparting a helical motion to liquid entering said body from said supply pipe, and an aperture in saidbody adapted to provide communication between the central portion of the interior of said body and the exterior atmosphere.

8. In a vacuum breaker, the combination of a tubular body, a liquid supply thereto, a port adapted to provide communication between said supply and said body and entering said body in a direction substantially tangential thereto, an aperture in said body adapted to provide communication between the central portion of the interior body from said supply, an aperture. adapted to provide communication between the central portion of the interior of said body and the exterior atmosphere, a discharge pipe having communication with said body and provided near its discharge extremity with a plurality of peripherally located discharge apertures, and a closure adapted to close the discharge end of said discharge P pe.

10. In a vacuum breaker, the combination of a tubular body, a liquid supplythereto, a port adapted to provide communication between said supply and said body and entering said body in' a; direction substantially tangential thereto, a.

top on said. body, a tubular sleeve positioned within said body .and spaced apart therefrom and from said top, an aperture in said top adapted to provide communication between said sleeve and the exterior atmosphere, a discharge pipe having communication with said body and provided near its discharge extremity with a plurality of peripherally located discharge apertures, and a closure adapted to close the discharge end of said discharge pipe.

11. In a vacuum breaker, the combination of a tubular body, a liquid supply connection thereto, means for causing liquid entering said body from said connection to assume a rotary motion, and a tube positioned in the center portion of said body and defining an unobstructed passageway between the central portion of the interior of said body, and the external atmosphere.

12. In a vacuum breaker, the combination of a tubular body, a liquid supply connection discharging into said body in a direction upwardly thereof and tangential thereto and an aperture in said body adapted to provide communication between the central portion of the interior of said body and the exterior atmosphere.

13. In a vacuum breaker, the combination or a tubular body, a liquid supply pipe thereto, a port adapted to provide communication between said supply pipe and said body and entering said body in a direction substantially tangential thereto whereby liquid entering said body is directed upwardly in a spiral motion, an inner sleeve position in said body and spaced therefrom, means for directing the flow of liquid downwardly into said sleeve and means for providing communication between the interior of said sleeve and the exterior atmosphere.

14. In a vacuum breaker, the combination of a tubular body, a liquid supply pipe thereto, means for causing liquid entering said body from said supply pipe to assume a spiral motion and to travel upwardly in said body, an inner sleeve positioned in said body, means for directing the flow of liquid downwardly into said sleeve and means for providing communication between the interior 01' said sleeve and the exterior atmosphere.

CARL J. KOHLER; 

